Error message

Deprecated function: The each() function is deprecated. This message will be suppressed on further calls in book_next() (line 811 of /mnt/target03/362662/www.americansuperstarmag.com/web/content/modules/book/book.module).

Playmate Katie Lohmann's Journey Worth the Wait

By Jeff Ferrantino on March 31, 2007

Patience is certainly a virtue when it comes to describing actress/model Katie Lohmann.

When Lohmann was nine years old, she was afforded the chance to be a part of an all new "Mickey Mouse Club" television series, but parental fears closed the door on that opportunity.

"The problem was my mother didn't have any experience with the industry, and neither did my father," the 27-year-old Lohmann explained. "They were worried that I would make too much money at a young age, and that it would make me into an adult that wouldn't be able to function."

Not surprisingly, the aspiring entertainer reacted to the decision just like any other child would. "I was kicking and screaming and throwing a fit," Lohmann recalled with laughter. "The age that I was, you can't really say, 'Well, I'm just going to pack my bags and leave anyway!' "

Finally, many years later, and at the blessing of her parents, Lohmann broke into showbiz at the age of 19 when she was named Playboy magazine's Playmate of the Month in April 2001.

"I thought that I was missing a big break," Lohmann recalled of her childhood. Who knows, my career could have turned out completely different. I could be in Jennifer Love Hewitt's position now. But, you know, everything happens for a reason. I guess I was just supposed to be a nudie model!"

Instead of pouting about her missed opportunity as a child, Lohmann turned her focus to sports growing up. As a high school freshman, Lohmann made quite a name for herself on the wrestling team — the boys varsity team that is. Her spot on the team came about when the team's 109-pounder went down with an injury.

"I was the only person who could fill in that spot, so I got to travel with the varsity team," she said. "It was so crazy."

Lohmann didn't just fill in, she became a force to be reckoned with on the mat.

"I didn't know if I would be any good at wrestling" Lohmann explained. "Obviously I'm really flexible, so if I'm wrestling a guy and he decides to put my leg behind my head, it's not going to hurt me. It's not like wrestling a guy and they start screaming like a baby!"

"Some of them would start laughing before we even got started," continued Lohmann. "I'm thinking, 'Yeah, go ahead and laugh now.' And then they would see that I'm serious and they would get angry, because everyone was watching them of course. Then they would get really physical and start to get really competitive, and that would just push me even more."